VR device market drops in 2018, expected to rally in 2019

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have seen a drop in consumer sales in 2018, according to new research from CCS Insight.

The company says the market has seen a dip in 2018, with sales of devices down to eight million, compared to 10 million in 2017.

However, it expects the market to rally again in 2019 - with a predicted 14 million sales, increasing to 52 million by 2022.

CCS Insight believes the advent of standalone VR headsets will help reinvigorate the product category.

The company said: "All-in-one devices overcome the inconvenience of being attached to a PC, smartphone or games console, and so deliver a better VR experience."

It said devices such as Facebook's Oculus Go and Oculus Quest, which are being offered at retail prices of $200 and $400 respectively, are good examples of the future of VR.

CCS Insight's chief of research, Ben Wood, said: "We continue to believe that content is the key to unlocking adoption of VR. Although some games companies and adult content creators have embraced VR technology, much more needs to happen to persuade consumers that VR devices are a must-have item."